Porch pirate season is upon us. The modern day grinches are out to steal Santa’s boxes being delivered to your front door. Police are warning package thieves are starting earlier and deploying more crafty tactics.
Package theft surging
43% of respondents in a Package Theft Statistics survey say they’ve had a delivery stolen from in front of their home at least once. The 2020 C+R Research survey also indicates that its getting worse with package theft up 7% over the previous year making the 2021 holiday season the biggest target for porch pirates yet.
It’s time now to deploy a porch pirate plan to keep your packages safe for the holiday.
How to protect packages from being stolen
By far the most useful innovation in years for package delivery security is the video doorbell. It catches crooks on video pure and simple.
Wyze Video Doorbell lights up brightly to warn would-be porch pirates they are being watched
Strategy #1Â Deter porch pirates with a video doorbell
Depending upon how well your police department responds to porch pirate package theft, position your video doorbell to capture the face of the pirate and your package deliveries. Wyze Video Doorbell can push notifications to get a phone alert whenever anyone or anything approaches your door, even if they don’t ring the doorbell.
Capture visitors with 12-second videos and store them in the cloud for rolling 14 days for free. The Wyze Video Doorbell is easy to install by swapping out your old wired doorbell button and plugging in the chime inside. Wyze Video Doorbell is here.
- Instant Notifications: Never miss another visitor. Unless you want to. Receive instant push notifications when Wyze Video Doorbell is pressed so you know the moment someones at your door. Pull up a live stream of your visitor before responding to decide whether youd like to ignore a solicitor or answer the delivery driver.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
We also added a couple of nearly invisible wireless Wyze Cam v3 cameras on tree limbs near the street at our house in hopes of being able to record a license plate if ever needed for police. I can set them to send a notification when the camera detects a person or car.
Deter Porch Pirates With A Video Doorbell
The wireless camera that is inexpensive and solid is called Wyze Cam v3 and has night vision that looks like daylight when viewing in the dark of night. This do-it-all, indoor/outdoor smart security camera with color night vision is the easiest way to start your smart home. Cam Plus for $1.99 per month has package and person detection to alert you when either are detected. I have more than 12 of these around our home perimeter and love them.
- Color night vision: An all-new Starlight Sensor records night time video in full, vivid color. The Starlight Sensor can see full color in environments up to 25x darker than traditional video cameras and the new f/1.6 aperture captures 2x more light.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Strategy #2 Pick a delivery date
Amazon and others let you pick the day of the week to receive packages
Get packages delivered on a day you know someone will be home to receive them.  Amazon and several retailers offer to ship for delivery on specific days of the week. That way it easier to monitor when packages are mostly likely to arrive and can be safely stashed.
Strategy #3 Sign up for delivery notifications
Delivery notifications alert you when a package just arrived
You can get an alert each time a package arrives at your doorstep. Both FedEx and UPS will send a text when you’ve just received a delivery.  Amazon will also send you a shipment text letting you know a package was just delivered.
To setup Amazon delivery notifications, follow these quick steps.
- Log on to the Amazon site
- Go to Your Account here
- Scroll down to the Communication and content section
- Tap Shipment Updates via Text
- Follow on screen instructions and then tap Subscribe
Strategy #4Â Talk to your delivery drivers
Talk with your mail carrier, UPS and FedEx delivery drivers
Say hello to the folks normally delivering packages. Ask them to place your deliveries in a less visible spot if you are not home.  The key is getting your packages out of view of opportunistic porch pirates that may be driving by looking for easy prey.
Strategy #5Â Send your packages to Amazon Lockers
A nearby Amazon Locker maybe secure but not convenient
Opting for delivery to a nearby lockbox called Amazon Lockers is a very secure method to dodge package theft in many cities. I tried it once and found it to be a hassle to make an extra trip to receive deliveries but is indeed more secure than leaving an order on my porch. You get notified when packages are awaiting your retrieval. You enter the Locker code to get your items. See how far away the nearest Amazon Locker is located to your home.
Find the nearest Amazon Locker.
Strategy #6 Add a Locking Delivery Box
Locking delivery box keeps porch pirates from getting to your packages
The Elephantrunk Parcel Drop sits in front of your home on your porch. Most common sized packages will fit inside the secure compartment standing 37.2 inches tall.  The deliveries go into the top of the box and drop into the locked chamber that only you can unlock. A shock absorbing cushion keeps fragile items protected.
The inventor, Architectural Mailboxes, includes everything you need from a sign to instruct delivery folks to supplying a bolt to secure it into the ground 2.5″ deep with the included screw keeps it porch pirate proof.  It’s made of tough weather-resistant aluminum weighing 40 pounds and scores high reviews here on Amazon.
- Rotating drum design accepts multiple parcels as large as 11.5 x 7.3 x 9.3
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Strategy #7 Amazon Key In-Garage Delivery
Add a smart opener and Amazon will deliver in your garage
We added a strong deadbolt to the door leading into the house from the garage before signing up. Now, when we are not home, an Amazon delivery can be placed securely inside our garage using the free service called Amazon Key.  The addition of a smart garage controller like myQ is the first step.  Once you’ve signed up for Amazon Key, pick Key Delivery when checking out on Amazon to have your packages securely put in the garage. I really like that you can block access to your garage any time you want. The driver never needs your garage code and access only works for their one-time delivery.  Put in your zip code here to see if the free Amazon Key service is available in your area.
MyQ smart garage controller works with major brands for Amazon Key delivery inside your garage
The MyQ Smart Garage controller is compatible with all major garage openers and available here.
- Try Amazon Key In-Garage Delivery and receive a $30 Amazon credit with your first order. Simply enter promo code KEY30 at checkout to receive the credit. Applies to eligible Amazon Prime members in select areas. Terms & conditions at amazon.com/key.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Strategy #8 Monitor nearby package theft reports
Apps like NextDoor and Neighbors warn when nearby porch pirates are reported
Sign up for neighborhood porch pirate alerts from popular local networks like Neighbors and Nextdoor apps. This is where people often post when they’ve had a package stolen and sometimes upload video or images of the suspected porch pirates.  We’ve been about to identify a suspected porch pirate previously seen on one of these neighborhood apps so that our friends and neighbors can also be on the the lookout for these package thieves that seem to strike in seconds flat.
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